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Monday, February 28, 2011

When Jesus lived on earth, He healed the sick. He fed the hungry and blessed the children. The Savior was often a friend to those who had no other friends. When He looked at others, He used His spiritual eyes and His heart. In this way He could understand how people felt and what they needed. He helped many, many people. He is the best example of someone who looked with His spiritual eyes, felt and understood with His heart, and then helped.

Our prophet is also a good example of someone who looked with his spiritual eyes, felt and understood with his heart, and then helped. President Gordon B. Hinckley was only twenty years old when his mother died. He had younger brothers and sisters at home, and everyone in the family was very sad. Ramona was sixteen and about to graduate from high school. She had no dress for that special occasion, and she thought nobody noticed. But her older brother Gordon saw her need, understood how she felt, and helped. Using some money he had saved for graduate school, he bought her a new dress. His kindness made her feel loved.

Invite the children to think of people who need Good Samaritans today. Discuss with the children how they can be Good Samaritans. Have the children mark this story in their scriptures, and suggest that they share it with their families.

Explain to the children that You can look at others with your spiritual eyes, feel and understand with your heart, and then, after careful thought, give help. When you look at others, try to imagine how you would feel in their situation. Then prayerfully decide what you can do to help and do it. Small, simple acts of kindness are often the most helpful. There are people who need your help everywhere, every day. Each time you look with your spiritual eyes and feel with your heart, you will become more sensitive to others, and when you are kind to someone and help them, you are showing love to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Activity:

Carefully color the pair of Feeling Glasses, the ear pieces, and the Helping Hands badge, then cut them out.

Attach the ear pieces to the glasses by gluing, taping, or stapling.

You can wear these items to help you remember to look both with your spiritual eyes and with your heart, and to help in some way—or you can hang them on your wall as a reminder.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

What does it mean to be loyal? (being faithful and true, and standing up for that which is right).

“We show our loyalty to the Lord by being obedient to parents, being respectful of our brothers and sisters, following Church leaders, and fulfilling our church callings and priesthood responsibilities. Loyalty includes being obedient to the laws of the land and the commandments of God. Loyalty to employer and employee, demonstrated by an honest day’s work and an honest day’s pay, is part of our loyalty to the Lord, for what we do unto each other we do unto Him. It means standing up for that which is right when our associates would persuade us to do wrong.”

16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Discussion ideas:

How did Ruth show her loyalty to Naomi?
Instead of returning to her own family, Ruth went to Bethlehem with Naomi. She cared and provided for her by gleaning in the fields.

What great blessings came from Ruth’s love and loyalty to Naomi?
Because of Ruth’s love and loyalty to Naomi she was able to meet and marry Boaz. Ruth and Boaz were blessed with a son, Obed and Obed’s son Jesse was the father of David, the greatest king in Israel’s history. Ruth’s love and loyalty to Naomi not only brought gospel blessings to Ruth, but through her lineage the entire Israelite nation was blessed.”

What has the Lord asked us to do for the poor that compares to His instruction to the land owners in Ruth’s time?

To give a generous fast offering.

What can our family do to loyally serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
List and discuss things you can do to loyally serve the Lord and others.

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, banana and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to the wet mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. The dough is very stick so refrigerate for 1 hour. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 9 - 11 minutes. or until the edges are lightly browned. DONT OVER BAKE!! I always double the batch because it doesnt make a huge batch and they go so fast!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

“We do not know the future, but our Father in Heaven does, and He will lead and guide us if we let Him. When we are in tune with the Spirit, we will see many small miracles happen in our lives. I have found that having the ability to see and recognize these small... miracles is based upon my spiritual worthiness, my willingness to be obedient, and my desire to not allow myself to become complacent and caught up in worldly and personal pursuits.”

Friday, February 18, 2011

"Arabian horses are to be used in the most important service. The horses must be smart and strong. But even more important, they must have self-discipline. They are trained from the time they are a few months old to come when they hear their master's whistle. As a final test to see if they have learned to obey, these horses are put in a corral without water for a long period of time. The horses' tongues become swollen from thirst. They do everything but jump the fence to get to the water. When the corral gate is finally opened, the horses make a break for the nearby pool of clear, cold water. But just as the horses are about to reach the water, the master blows his whistle. Some horses pay no attention to the master's whistle. Others take a quick drink and then go to the master. But some immediately turn and go the master, no matter how much they are suffering for water. These horses are accepted for the most important service. The others are called culls and must be used in less important work.

These horses are trained for a special purpose. They must come immediately without delay. Their master's life may depend upon their unquestioning obedience.

Heavenly Father has a special purpose for each one of us. But if we do not learn to be obedient, Heavenly Father will not be able to use us for the special purpose he has for us.

Our obedience is very important to our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we might not understand why, but we should learn to obey our Heavenly Father without question. If we learn to obey, we will fulfill our special purpose and be given greater opportunities to serve."(YW Manual 3, Lesson 7)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

"When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

“There is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today, and to live most fully today, we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most.” Thomas S. Monson, “Treasure of Eternal Value”, Ensign , April 2008, 4–9 Other Similar Thoughts: When God Speaks And [...]

Jesus Christ taught us that it is a commandment to love one another, and that other people will know that we are His disciples if we love one another. There are many ways that we can show our love to others by helping them.

Case Study 1: You and your father are sitting on the corner waiting for the bus to come. You see an older man hurrying to catch the bus. He has a cane to help him walk, but he can’t move very fast. The bus pulls up and the door opens. As you climb up the steps, you can tell he probably won’t reach the bus in time. What could you do to show love for this man?

Case Study 2: On Sunday morning you are walking to church. You see a young mother with her baby in one arm and some books in the other. What could you do to follow the example of the Savior and show love for this woman?

Explain how one of the best places to show love is at home. What are some things we can do to show love to each other at home?ACTIVITY:
Pass out pipe cleaners and have everyone make a pipe cleaner into a heart. This week challenge them to do something nice for a family member without them knowing and leave the heart when they are done.

TREAT: Cheesecake Pops
These look so incredibly yummy, fun and easy to make for even little kids. Head HERE for the full recipe, and how to.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Joseph B. Wirthlin:
“Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

“But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

“No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, in this life or the next, Sunday will come.”("Dark Friday, Bright Sunday," New Era, Mar. 2008, 4)

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

"Feeling acceptance and affection from parents is vital for a child’s sense of acceptance. Sadly, about one out of every four LDS teens reported that they felt their parents did not adequately demonstrate their love for them. While we cannot know exactly how often and in what manner their parents actually expressed affection, we do know that more than 25 percent felt it did not measure up to what they desired and needed. It is difficult for teenagers to feel a sense of worth if their parents do not express love, appreciation, and respect for them. Those young people who exhibit a healthy confidence not only have come to feel Heavenly Father’s love for them but also have experienced consistent expressions of love and support from their earthly parents. “My parents are very affectionate,” one young man reported. “They always hug me and tell me they love me. That means a lot!” In contrast, many of the teens who expressed self-contempt reported that they did not feel loved by their parents and rarely, if ever, heard the words “I love you.” One high school student stated: “My family isn’t a hugging, touchy-feely sort of family. We have problems expressing our love to each other. I can count on one hand the number of times I have been hugged by my parents. I wish we would show our love more openly.” Each of us needs to feel loved, respected, accepted, and appreciated. We all need to hear verbal expressions of that love. It is especially vital for adolescents who are being bombarded with feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. As one teen declared, “I don’t think the words ‘I love you’ can ever be overused.”

It is difficult for some parents to hug their children and express love, even though such expressions are as vital to the emotional and spiritual development of their children as sunshine, good soil, and adequate water are for the healthy growth of a plant. A parent’s reluctance to express love can be compounded sometimes by the way children react—especially if they aren’t accustomed to experiencing such affection. They may roll their eyes, groan, and pull away, but deep inside they feel a special security that comes with the knowledge that they are loved. Expressing love takes little time, costs nothing, and yet yields rich dividends—here and hereafter. A daily outpouring of love is not only vital for emotional well-being but also essential to spiritual development."
(Ensign, February 2006)

2. Read John 13:34–35“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

3. Discussion - Use as the Spirit and your family needs guide:

When Jesus gave this new commandment to “love one another” (John 13:34–35), was He speaking only to His twelve disciples? (No.)

What is a disciple? (One who believes in and follows Jesus.)

How can we show Jesus that we are His disciples? (By loving one another and keeping the commandments.)

4. How do we know that God loves us?
(He provided a Savior for us, so we can return to live with Him.)“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16.)

5. Is love important? (Yes.)“Love is of the very essence of life...Love is the security for which children weep, the desire of youth, the cement that binds marriage, and the smoothing oil that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, church, and neighbors.” Gordon B. Hinckley, Tambuli, Aug. 1982

6. Can love make the world a better place? (Yes.)“Love is the only force that can erase the differences between people, that can heal relationships shattered by bitterness....If the world is to be improved, the process of love must make a change in the hearts of men. It can do so when we look beyond self to give our love to God and others, and do so with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.” Gordon B. Hinckley, Tambuli, Aug. 1984

7. How can we can show our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus? (By serving and loving others and following our Savior’s example.)

8. What can we do to show greater love for each other? (Discuss ideas.)

STORY: Valentines for Jesus
Mother put the box of colored paper, ribbon, and lace on the kitchen table where the children were busy addressing their valentines for their classmates.

“When you’re done, do you want to make some special valentines?” Mother asked the children.

“I want to make a special valentine for Daddy!" answered Heidi.

“Oh, Daddy will love that, Heidi!”

“Mommy, would it be okay if I make a valentine for my school teacher?” asked Janece.

“I think you should make one for your teacher,” Mother answered.

“I want to make a valentine for my primary teacher!” Thomas added.

“That’s a great idea, Thomas! I’m sure that will make Sister Wells very happy.”

Five-year-old Breanna sat quietly, listening to her brothers and sisters make a list of people they wanted to make valentines for. “Do you have someone special you want to make a valentine for Breanna?” Mother asked.

“Can I make a valentine for anyone I want?” Breanna queried.

“Of course, Sweetie!” Mother assured her youngest daughter.

“Then I want to make a valentine for Jesus!” the little girl exclaimed.

Mother looked at Thomas and then at Breanna, who’s eyes had filled with tears. “Breanna, tell Thomas, why you want to make a valentine for Jesus.”

“To show Him I love Him!”

“I think love, is the best reason to send a valentine. Don’t you, Thomas?”

Thomas looked down, “Yes, Ma’am.”

“Mommy, can we all make valentines for Jesus?” asked Heidi.

Mother smiled at her eager children, “Of course!”

“We need to make the very best valentines for Jesus!” added Janece.

Mother thought about what they could do to make special valentines for Jesus. “I know what we can do!” she said.

Heidi and Janece you help me trace two paper hearts on this white paper for each of you. Mother then showed Brianna and Thomas how to glue the hearts onto a piece of poster board. They then took a piece of red construction paper and glued it to the poster board. After the glue dried Heidi and Janece carefully cut out the hearts, while Thomas and Brianna cut the red paper into long strips.

As they worked on the special valentines, they sang, “As I have loved you, love one another....”
Mother then taught the children how to weave the red strips in and out of the slits, she had cut, in one of the hearts.

“Mommy, what’s a disciple?” asked Breanna.

“A disciple is someone who believes in and follows Jesus,” Mother answered.

“Are you a disciple, Mommy?” the little girl asked.

“I am! Are you?”

Breanna smiled and nodded.

“So, how do we show Jesus that we are His disciples?

“I know, I know!” shouted Thomas, “By loving one another. Like the song says!”

“That’s right Thomas. The song was written about the new commandment Jesus gave us in the scriptures. Should we write the scripture on your valentines?

“Yes! That’s my favorite song! And I want to also tell him that; I will be His disciple.”

“That a good idea,” Mother agreed.

The children finished their special valentines for Jesus by trimming them with lace and ribbon.

“Mommy, how will we give our valentines to Jesus?” Brianna asked.

“How about if we hang it in your room, where it can remind you to be Jesus’s disciple by loving one another. That way Jesus can see it and He will know that you love Him!”

"Friday morning while I was taking the children to school this song came on in the car. I was listening to the words and was invisioning Jesus Christ saying these words to me, "I will stand by you, I will help you through, when you've done all you can do if you cant cope. I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight, I will hold you tight and I wont let go. So I came straight home and through out the day made a music video to go with it. It did take all day, I mean I am still and most importantly a mom, but I really wanted to do this. So here it is. I hope you enjoy it. I would love your feedback!"

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught:“All too often a family's spending is governed more by their yearning than by their earning. They somehow believe that their life will be better if they surround themselves with an abundance of things. All too often all they are left with is avoidable anxiety and distress”.
("Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts," Ensign, May 2004, 42).

P.S.

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